The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already reflects all associated symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction (claimed as ischemic heart disease), associated with herbicide exposure, is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination and review of the claims file.
The deciding factor: The current 10 percent rating assigned for tinnitus is intended to compensate for all demonstrated symptoms and represents the maximum schedular rating.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, as there are indications of worsening since his last evaluation in September 2017.,The Veteran has requested a grant of 100 percent for his cardiovascular disability. A new VA examination and review of the claims file are necessary to assess the current severity of this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction (claimed as ischemic heart disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20049392
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20049392.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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